Mitchell's Mausers

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Ok I'm back and I hope Crackedbut is still on -

I've gone through the ads and posts and opinions. I've checked with various sites including wickepedia and all claim that Most M48's were built and put in storage in Military new condition so the chances of getting 1 in that condition are pretty good.

I have come to the conclusion that MM has told some fibs. I don't know if they were just uneducated, or a really great scam, but my M48 was not built on German Tooling. Did I overpay? Maybe, but I guess it should be buyer beware. I don't know firsthand about scams with German K98's or bayonets or anything.

What does concern me and what I really want to know is - Is my M48 in military new condition or was it refinished by MM? I'm no expert but this does not look like it's been refinished. I've seen refinished Mosins and K98's and even old Mossbergs that were reblued and this does not look anything like any of those. I also don't see how you could keep the chamber and rifling as clean as this gun was compared to my M24/47 that was definately a used gun. How can you refinish rifling?

OK - so if I find out my M48 was not in Military New Condition I will consider getting with everyone else who bought one and start a class action suite cuase that's just wrong.

So - how can I tell if my gun was refinished? Anyone?
 
Oh boy, class action..........

Guys, tell me where you can buy a weapon in the shape these weapons come in for the price you pay for these weapons. As for the tankers, buy a 30-06 or .308 for that price any where else.

I know some people love to trash Mitchells but let's get real. The snobbery really gets to me sometimes. Not everyone can afford to pay for a prime Garand or K98 anymore. Let those of us that cannot afford it get our toys too. :cuss:
 
Rshooter - I'll be happy to sell you mine for the 299 + shipping/handling and what I paid in Tax and include all the accessories I got for it in the box. Just send me a PM with your FFL address we can work this out.

I'm also still waiting to hear or see some proof that the M48's were in fact refurbed by MM. I still have not recieved any responses. Being uneducated and claiming bad info about tooling is 1 thing, but actually rebluing a gun then stating that it is in MilNew Condition is a *&#@ty thing to do.

I'm not convinced it is a refurb but if I find out it is, I'll be asking for my money back. It has nothing to do with being a snob, and actually I've been defending MM till now. I like the gun and it is in good condition but I don't like to be scammed.
 
They definitely seem to indicate that these are true 98s
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That is because they sell both the K98, and the M48 version. See their website.
 
The M48's probably didn't need much restoration. Aside from being absolutely saturated in cosmoline, many were in almost new condition. My 24/47 had bluing better than many commercial rifles and a bore that was like new. I paid $130 for it.
 
My first surplus rifle I got was a MM M48. Got it on sale at Dunhams for around $250. I knew nothing about surplus guns at the time, so got it thinking I was getting a WW2 gun. So I bit on there advertising. I had it for around 5 years now and it got me into the surplus collecting.

As far as the gun goes, I don't believe it was refinished or other wise touches. The gun was still thoroughly covered in Cosmoline. To say it was in new condition would not be a stretch.

Its probably one the nicest surplus guns I own. Worth what I paid probably not, but I am happy with it.

Brion
 
These days, milsurps have gone up in value so that the costs quoted on the MM's seem high but not insane. At the time, though, the MM's were three to four times the cost for the exact same thing sold by several distributors but without the cock-and-bull story. There is a reason why MM did not advertise in Shotgun News, because the truth would be revealed.

Fundamentally, though, the price was not bad when compared to, say, a Remington 700 or Winchester 70. Guys who did not milsurp but did read American Rifleman and just got finished seeing Band of Brothers or Saving Private Ryan, could be suckered by MM. That MM was selling rifles so high was their right. That they sold them because they were lying was the problem.

Anyone who bought one, paid way too much because they could have gotten the exact (THE EXACT) same thin from J&G, SOG, or AIM. They paid way too much, but in the end, they did get a Mauser-based rifle in excellent condition for less than the price of a Remington. That was enough for many.

The same thing is happening today with their Russian Capture K98k's, Lugers, and the like (that they say were refinished before the end of WWII (oh give me a break). Those who get snookered may be defensive about things, but to them, at least, the firearm in question was worth the price.

Ash
 
So then the K98's are being refinished, but the M48's were not.

OK then I was dupped and overpaid, but not outright scammed.

Thanks and sorry for hijacking this thread.

Lovesbeer99 (but shoots safe)
 
Yes, there were a lot fo unissued M48s imported, some by MM, these are/wre real nice rifles, MM ssold them for around $400 based on their hype, other importers sold unissued rifles for well under $200.

There were far more rifles that were imported that had varying states of wear. Some of the MM M48s that I've seen recently have had parts in the white (barrel bands mostly) that aren't supposed to be int he white, and for which I haven't seen in the white from other importers. Maybe they were imported this way, maybe not...
 
Well, your value will return in time. At some point, these will increase in value just as Finnish Mosins and rifles from other countries. Your rifle will not be an investment, but it won't be a major loss, either. You still have a Mauser in excellent condition, right?

Ash
 
but my M48 was not built on German Tooling.
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I did a little more reading....


It seems that the germans scuttled the Zastava/Preduceze-44 (sp?) factory and the equipment that was originally in it. It appears that that Yugoslavia did rebuild the factory using German equipment that they got through Soviet channels.
 
My son got me a mitchell's collector grade Christmas of 2006 and paid $299 for it and I love it....just like mr Bartley said, they didn't try to say it was a german gun they rightly said it was made by serbians on german machinery after the nazis were gone and was unissued. When it arrived it looked new and was covered with cosmoline. Shoots great, looks great and feels good on the shoulder. What else can you ask for. Try paying $299 for a "practically" like new gun with a mauser action these days. I bet it is not so easy. And this rifle really shoots well.....I'm happy and am going to buy my son a gun in the near future that he has expressed some interest in.
 
Try paying $299 for a "practically" like new gun with a mauser action these days. I bet it is not so easy.
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Actually it is. The M48's and M24/47's that were imported were in beautiful condition. I don't think they're being imported anymore, but if you go to a gun show you can still pick them up in excellent condition for between $150 and $250 fairly easily.
 
Allright, I'll bite. I was just turning 18, was always a WWII history type and was just starting to get interested in the world of Milsurp. One of my magainzes had an add for Mitchells. I read it, and thought I would be getting a K98. Wasn't until some time after that I learned more about milsurps and what I really had.

Now don't get me wrong, my M48a is one of the nicer rifles I own. Came with bayonet, sling and the accessories, was pretty much devoid of cosmolene, great bore, good looking... Overall it's a nice rifle. My only point of contention is that it's not what I thought it was and it was overpriced compared to where I could have gotten it. The ads Mitchells runs now are DEFINATELY not what they were running 5 years ago. I would testify to that.

I look at it now and can only say Caveat Emptor. I look at them as sellers of refurbished rifles at a higher price. Good if you're looking for a shooter, bad if you're looking for a shooter and historical piece, but that's just me.
 
Hello all !!! A mauser question from a thr newbie

guys,
i read all the posts in this thread and gleened some great info from it. here's my question............ i'm not looking for an investment out of a mauser, simply a mauser from ww2 with nazi markings that is a decent shooter that looks good and is fun to shoot. evidently called "bubba-ized" :)...
rather than buy a beat up one and clean it up some myself, am i better or worse served spending a little more and buying a mm @ $300? (knowing it's not terribly original and has been sanded, ect...) the ads appear to give you the option to buy a k98 that is date-stamped or a mod 48 if you specify.... do ya'll think the 98 at 300 bucks is alright for something to take out to the field to just have fun with? seems like there are some big-brained enthusists in here, so i'll value ya'lls opinions and thanks in advance for the thoughts!!!
ps....sorry if the question seems dumb, i just love firearms, i don't pretend to be an expert :)
 
Me I think MM and the High Road tend to be a big fork in the road. I recall their adds where they said they where a K 98 made on german tooling. How odd that 48 and 98 parts wont mix and swap. I think they quit making the things in the late 50s when they went to the later version of the 48.
 
I personally have had business dealings with Don Mitchell and Mitchell Arms. My company was a vendor to Mitchell Arms before the gov-mint shut him down.

After he went out of business, I had a personal visit at night from the BATF about Mitchell Arms. Let's say... things aren't always what they seem.

Some of you on this thread are very very smart...other are extremely naive.
 
I dont know if you could say that MM could sell me a pound of gold for a dollar and id complain about it but...
In my latest yet shotgun news they are trying to sell me a "spoils of WWII" "hitlers orriginal K98K mauser" that has a bolt that is polished. Im no expert on mausers but i do know they germans never made a single K98K durring the war that the bolt wasn't blued like the rest of the rifle. So you tell me who is full of it.
 
MM, as with any company, will push the limits to push its product. That acknowledged, I do believe that they offer a reasonable product at a reasonable price. The M48s seem to have excellent metal to metal fit, excellent metal to wood fit, and the bores that I have seen have all been excellent as well.

I see more quality variance in the MM K98s. My own MM K98 is a nice example of what can be had from MM. Is the price too high at $499.00? That is debatable. What the buyer is willing to pay, rather sets or sustains the price. My own K98 has all of the proper markings, is tightly made, and I feel I got a good deal. That said, when I buy one of these rifles, as when I buy an other Mil Surp, I understand that I will likely get a Frankenrifle, meaning parts taken from potentially a dozen or more other rifles, but likely at least with authentic parts.

Is MM deceptive? No, read between the lines with all companies. Am I pleased with my own MM products (an M48 and a K98)? Yes, with both. Were they worth the money? I feel I got my money's worth.
 
Is MM deceptive? No, read between the lines with all companies. Am I pleased with my own MM products (an M48 and a K98)? Yes, with both. Were they worth the money? I feel I got my money's worth.
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I'm glad you're happy with your rifle(s) as that's the most important thing . .but to say that MM is not any more deceptive than other firearms companies is really stretching it a bit. When I bought my M1A recently from Springfield they didn't try to tell me that it was an M14. When I bought a Springfield "GI Spec" they didn't try to tell me it was a special version of the WWII Remington Rand. (which would be equivalent to the M48 ad's from MM)

Just my .02.

Regards,
Dave
 
I'm happy that Doc2005 feels he got a good deal, but I have to agree with dmftoy1 that the majority of us feel that MM stretches the truth in their adds, and charges considerably more for the same rifle than anyone else.

If you don't think I summed up the thread pretty well...............take a little time and go through this thread and total up those for MM as opposed.
 
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